ORLANDO, Fla. — It’s a gray area that has even stumped law enforcement — when is it ok to cross a double-yellow line?

Kathy Marinelli and her home health aide Irene Simmons have been debating the question for months.

 “I thought you should not cross the double-yellow line. I had read that when I took a class through AARP,” Marinelli said.

However, Simmons disagrees.

“Under some circumstances,” Simmons said. “I think it all depends.”

The problem comes up when Marinelli and Simmons are driving in south downtown Orlando, trying to turn into a bank parking lot from Michigan Street, near Orange Avenue.

Florida Highway Patrol told me last year drivers can’t cross a double-yellow line.

But Orlando police did some digging and found some helpful information in the Uniform Vehicle Code, a national and state set of rules for the road.

While you can’t pass on a double-yellow line, the law allows drivers to turn into and from an alley, private road, or driveway across a double-yellow line, so long as it’s safe to do so.

“So you won,” Marinelli told Simmons. “She has to be right.”

No hard feelings between Marinelli and Simmons.

They’re just glad they’ve got some clarification next time they’re driving around town.

FHP now agrees with OPD, you can cross a double-yellow line in certain circumstances.

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